Any deed which has been heretofore, or which may hereafter be so executed, or which has been executed pursuant to Article XV of this Act, or a certified copy of the record thereof, shall be prima facie evidence that the provisions of the law in relation to the sale of the property for which it is or may be given were complied with; and in case of the loss or destruction of the record of the judgment, or levy thereon, such deed or certified copy of the record thereof shall be prima facie evidence of the entry and existence of the judgment and levy thereunder as therein recited.
12-150.Deed as evidence.
Article XII. Judgments - Enforcement · Part 1. In General · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 12-150 makes a sheriff's deed, or a certified copy of its record, prima facie evidence that the sale complied with the law, and, if the record of the underlying judgment or levy has been lost or destroyed, prima facie evidence that the judgment and levy existed as the deed recites.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/12-150
Plain-English Summary
This section gives an executed deed evidentiary weight beyond the property interest it conveys. Any deed executed under this Part, or under Article XV, or a certified copy of the record of that deed, stands as prima facie evidence that the legal requirements for selling the property were followed.
That evidentiary role matters most when the underlying record has been lost. If the record of the judgment or the levy under it is lost or destroyed, the deed or a certified copy of its record becomes prima facie evidence of the entry and existence of the judgment and the levy, as the deed itself recites them.
Because the standard is prima facie rather than conclusive, the deed's recitals can still be rebutted by contrary proof; the section lets a court or title examiner start from what the deed says rather than reconstructing the entire enforcement chain from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the deed prove by itself?
Prima facie compliance with the law governing the sale of the property it describes.
What if the underlying judgment or levy record is lost or destroyed?
The deed, or a certified copy of its record, becomes prima facie evidence of the judgment's and levy's entry and existence, as recited in the deed.
Does Section 12-150 cover deeds from Article XV foreclosure sales too?
Yes, it covers deeds executed under Article XV as well as deeds executed under this Part.
Is prima facie evidence the same as conclusive proof?
No, prima facie evidence stands unless rebutted by contrary proof.
Why would this section matter years after a sale?
It lets a court or title examiner rely on the deed itself instead of tracking down every earlier record in the judgment and levy chain.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: sheriff's deed prima facie evidence illinoislost judgment record proof illinoisdeed as proof of judgment sale compliance illinois